Network neutrality is the view that all traffic on the internet should be “treated equally”. That means that access to all websites, web content and other internet platforms is the same for all internet users and only restricted by their hardware or software capabilities (i.e. connection speeds).
It’s a bit like having a subscription to satellite/cable television and having the same services regardless of which company you subscribe to.
Many telecommunication providers see potential in offering “tiered” access to the internet. That means a company could charge more for faster access to certain websites or web services when, currently, everything is open to everybody unless blocked. It could also mean bigger companies could block the websites of potential competitors or start-ups that threaten their business.
Using my earlier satellite television analogy. The internet could become a marketplace with differences between ISPs being like those between Sky, Virgin Media or ESPN. You might be able to access Facebook on all ISPs, but a few sites/services – for arguments sake iTunes, Netflix, Skype or Twitter – could become “exclusive” to certain ISPs, or slower depending on how much you’re willing to pay.
The latest threat comes in the fight against online copyright infringement. I’m certainly not condoning it by the way and agree that there needs to be a sensible resolution to the issue. In the US, the “Stop Online Piracy Act” (SOPA) and the “Protect IP Act” (PIPA) are the two latest attempts to clamp down on online piracy. Both were very wide ranging in scope and vague in their definitions. It could – in the loosest definitions possible – allow authorities to close websites that host user content (like Youtube videos with a soundtrack in the background), bar search engines or ISPs from allowing access to sites that breach copyright infringement (i.e Torrents) and, as a result, possibly discourage investment in new internet ventures – potentially costing jobs rather than saving them.
SOPA/PIPA look unlikely to be passed by the US Congress. However a new bill has been introduced by the creator of SOPA called the “Protecting Children from Internet Pornographers Act”. This Bill includes measures that would allow the tracking of IP addresses and financial details under the cover of a welcome arsenal in the fight against child pornography. Under Donald Trump’s presidency, net neturality rules were rolled-back, though in 2021 President Joe Biden has sought to undo these changes.
Perhaps what the US really needs a “Neutral Titles for Bills Act”.
